Apparatus for producing alkali hydrates and zinc sulfid.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

0. RANSON. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALKALI HYDRATES AND ZINC SULPID.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6.1905.

2 BKBETFSIBBT l.

.PATBNTED APR. 23; 1907.

C. HANSON. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALKALI HYDRATBS AND ZINC SULPID APPLICATION IILED 8EPT. 6, 1905.

2 BHBET8SHEBT 3.

UNITED sra'pn's PATENT, OFFICE;

CHARLES RAN SON OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY W11 LIAM DE STUCKLE, OF DIEUZE, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALKALI HYDRATES AND ZINCSULFID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented r m as, 1907.

Original application filed October 3, 1904, Serial No. 227,075. Patented April 17, 1908, Ho. 818,192. Divided and this application and September e, 1905, Serial No. 277.211, a l

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES RANsON, a citizen of Belgium, residing at Brussels, Belum, have invented certain new and useful mprovcments in an Ap aratus for Producing Alkali Hydrates an Zinc Sulfids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear', and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, this application being a division from my application, Serial N 0. 227,075, filed October 3, 1904.

can be ultimately converted .into precipi- The present invention relates to an a pa ratus for the manufacture of alkali or alkali hydrates, such as potassium or sodium hydrate and of zinc sulfid, as is described In my application of October 3, 1904, Serial No. 227,075, which has matured into Patent No. 818,192 of April 17, 1906.

' Metallic zinc dissolves in caustic-alkali solution with evolution of'hvdrogen and formation of zincate of the alkali-oxid of zinc united with the alkali. From this solution alkaline sulfids precipitate sulfid of zinc, reconstitutingthe original alkali and forming a new portion from the alkaline sulfid emplo 'ed. Therefore by covering a body of an ated zinc with a little weak alkali soutionv and feeding in strong solution of alkali sulfid as the zinc dissolves the zinc tated zinc sulfid, useful as a igment and or other purposes, and he a ali sulfid into caustic-alkali solution, free both from sulfur and from zinc. This is the basis of the method described in said application.

For carrying out that process in a continuous manner it is necessary that zinc in ex cess be treated with'alkali sulfid in the presence of alkali hydrates in order that the evolution of hydrogen may not be interru ted. Furthermore, it is necessary that the addition of alkali sulfid in excess may be prevcnted and that the reaction takes place in a closed receptacleand that the substances reacting on each other are constantly agitated.

Agitation preserves the homogeneitv of the solution, prevents accumulation of the zinc sulfid on the zinc and preserves a bright me-.

tallic'surface, and insures constant metallic metal which is used to form the structural element containing it, thereby roducing a voltaic couple wh1ch much fac' itates so utionl contact of said zinc with the iron or other An a paratus complying with these de- V mands orms the object of this invention.

In a closed receptacle a vessel containing the zinc rotates with a shaft. By the rotation of the'vessel the necessary agitating cffeet issimultaneously obtained. The agitating device is at the same time so arranged that the metallic zinc may be distributed over a lar e surface. One way of carry ng this into eiiect is by placing the metallic zinc. in a divided or granular form into an iron receiver or drum mounted upon a rotary shaft. By revolving the receiver the necessary agitating or stirring effect is obtained. In order that the zinc sulfid is not permanently deposited upon the zinc, but remains 'in sus .GIISIOII or is carried off after being former for the purpose of continuously presenting new metallic surfaces to the reaction liquid, the receiver or drum is formed of a erforated or foraminated bottomand simi-.

ar walls, so as to present substantially the shape of a dished strainer. -Under such a construction the reaction liquid will flow toward and over the zinc from all sides and carry off the deoosit.

In order to acilitatc the penetration of the reaction liquid between the zinc particles, the interior of the dished foraminated iron drum'is preferabl divided into a number of compartments y iron perforated or I oraminat ed partition-walls. By such a construction the liquid can pass from one compartment to the other, and, moreover, the surface of metallic iron is greatly increased.\ Thereby the zinc is at all parts in metallic contact with the iron, and thus its solution is facilitated according to wellknown principles. 7

The partition-walls may be constructed and arranged in any desired manner, either radially or radially with transverse dividingwalls in the radial partitions or in any other desired or suitable manner.

In order to prevent an excess of alkali sulfid, the receptacle in which the reaction takes containing the alkali sulfid that the supply of said alkali sulfid is governed by the amount if hydrogen developed. For this purpose an automatic pressm'e-regulator is arranged in communication with the receptacle, so as to permit the access of the hydrogen thereto, and is connected with reguhtting means, such as a valve, in the supply-pipe connecting the alkali-sulfid receptacle with the receptacle in which the reaction takes place. The evolution of hydrogen being strictly proportional to the solution of zinc, this structure enables the feed of alkali sullid to be proportioned to' the amount of zinc oxid going into solution.

If it is desired to obtain caustic alkali and zinc sulfid simultaneously, zinc in excess is boiled with caustic alkali in the closed me- 1 in suspension.

tallic receiver, iron filings being added for facilitating the evolution of hydrogen.

Any suitable device may be employed for heating the receptacle-such as, for example, a double bottom, as shown, for the introduction of a heating medium, such as steam, a steam-coil, or the like.

In starting the process the desired amount of zinc is first dissolved, and care is taken that undecomposcd alkali hydrate is still present. 7 Thereupon the alkali sulfid is added, the stirring or a itating device bein in constant motion in order to keep the finely-divided suspended zinc sulfid Hence during the course of the process zinc, caustic alkali, and alkali snitid are simultaneously present in the reaction-receptacle. The supply of the alkali snliidis so regulated that the amount of the same is just suilicient to form the zinc sulfid from the zinc oxid momentarily in solution, and no excess of the same, which, as formerly stated, would be injurious, is present. Aft erthe reaction is completed only a portion of the contents of the receptacle is removed. The remainder, about one-fifth or the entire quantity, serves to insure the continuity of the reaction, and from now on it will be nec 0 Br 0 add only zinc and alkali sulfid for ning the process.

accom gmnying drawings represent an apparatus which I consider the preferred embodiment of this invention.

in the said drawings, Fi ure 1 is an elevation. partly in longitudina vertical section, of such ap aratns; Fig. 2, a sectional plan on line A A oFFig. 1, one-half of the same being IvpT.* =.n[('tl broken away; Fig. 3, a similar view showing a modified form of drum. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the regulating device.

a is the receptacle, in which the granu -d zinc in excess and cau'stie alkali is heatintroducin steam or another medium :ie doublc bottom a. Heating serves to q Len the reactions I I b is a rotary drum having a perforated 'lib tend of the shaft a his secured thereto a bevel- 7 gear (1, meshing with the bevel-gear e on the shaft 6", to which are secured the fixed and loose pulleys By driving the pulleyf the rotation is transferred, by means of the gears e d, to the shaft 0 and to the drum 6.

The receptacle a is hermetically closed by the cover a, through which tile tubes 9 and. h

ass. The tube his'supported by the bracket connected to the bottom housing 11 of the regulator, and may be opened or closed by the valve m connected to the rod l. -The rod 1 is shiftably supported by the eye Z of the arm Z and connected to the lever 11, the fulcrum of which is at k. The other end of the lever k is connected to a (lost 1 by means of the rod 2 within the upper housing 3 of the regulator, which housing is supported 'by rods 4, resting on the bottom housin 'i. The bot-tom-housing'i is connected with t 1e 11 1 housing 3 by means of a tube 5 and is ii lllfd with water to the level yy. The space above the level I y is connected by the it. be g v i the upper partof the receptacle a.

The receptacle 1), containing alkali sulfid, is connected to the housing of the valve in by means of the tube n.

If hydrogen is disen aged in the receptacle a, it escapes throu h t e tube 9 into the bottom receptacle 1' 0 the regulator and presses upon the water-surface, so that the water mounts through the tube 5 into the upper receptacle 3 and lifts the float 1, r0 2, lever k, w 1

ich will turn about its fulcrum move.

down the rod 1, and mass the valve'm on its I seat, so that no alkali sulfid will befed into the rece tacle a.-, If the development of hydrogen egins to cease, the pressure acted. upon the level 1;- by the hydrogen gas becomes wcaker. Then the float 1 sinks down, turns the lever 7c, lifts the rod 1, and opens the valve m, so that the alkali sulfid is fed through the tubesn andh into the receptacle 0.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention.

and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what Iclaim is I 1. An alkali apparatus comprising a closed receptacle adapted to contain alkali-forming reagents, heating means and agitat' means for facilitating reaction therein, an means a Z l for feeding liquid rea ent thereto controlled by lthe pressure of evo 'ing gas in said receptau e.

2. An alkali-making apparatus comprising a closed receptacle, :1 rolalahlc pcilo 'aird a closed receptacle, heating means and agitat-ing means therefor, liquid-feeding means and )ressure-regulated means controlling said i communication with said receptacle.

3. An alkali-making apparatus coin u'isiisg a closed receptacle, a rotatable per orated drum in the base thereof and means for feeding a liquid reagent to said receptacle eontrolled by the pressure prevailing therein.

,4. An alkali-making apparatus comprising a. closed receptacle, a rotatable perforated metallic drum in the base thereof and means for feeding a li uid reagent to said receptacle controlled by t l pressure prevailing therein.

5. An alkali-making apparatus com rising a closed receptacle, a rotatable per orated drum therein divided into compartments by iqnid-feeding means and in gaseous perforated partitions, and means for feeding a liquid reagentto said lccc )tacle controlled by the pressure prevailing ll 6. An alkali-making apparatus vomprisin;

iron drum therein divided into ttfllnpzll'l im-nts by perforated iron partitions, and nwans for feeding a liquid reagent to said receptacle o controlled in the pressure prevailing therein.

7. An ztlliilll-llltlklllg apparatus comprising a closed receptacle, rotating agitating means therein, a heating-jacket on said receptacle.

' and means lorfeeding aliquid reagent to said 35 reeeptarle controlled by the pres ure of evolving gas therein.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses;

CHARLES RANSON.

Witnesses:

LOUIS Boxr, ;\L-\R1E PAYEN'. 

